Folding drafting table



Nov. 27', 1956 J. o. PRITCHARD FQLDING DRAFTING TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 8, 1955 v ATTORNEYS Nav, 27, 1956 .J. o. PRlTcHARD FOLDING DRAFTING TABLE Filed July 8, 1955 5 Sheets-S1396?I 2 17o/zi? 0. P/;Chal-d INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Nov. 27, 1956 J. o. PRlTcHARD FOLDING DRAFTING TABLE:

Filed July s,- 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jo/m 0. P/L''c/zard INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent O "if FOLDlNG DRAFTING TABLE John O. Pritchard, Sheridan, Wyo.

Application July 8, 1955, Serial No. 520,728

Claims. (Cl. 311-38) This invention relates to a folding drafting table, the primary object of the invention being to provide a drafting table in the form of :a carrying case which is so constructed and arranged that the table top will form the closure for the carrying case when in its normal folded position and when it is desired to carry or transport the drafting table for use on location.

An important object of the invention is to provide a folding traveling case which when closed, will encase the legs of the table in such a way that ample space is provided for the reception of the adjustable braces which are removably mounted on the table and which are designed to support the table top in various positions of angular adjustment to meet requirements of use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for pivotally connecting the legs of .the table so that the legs may be readily removed `and folded into a small and compact package for storing in the case.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear las the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construe-tion and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention .as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a folding drafting table constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the table with the top removed.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental sectional view illustrating the means for securing the supporting legs in their extended positions.

Fig, 7 is a sectional View taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 3. y

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 84-8 of Pig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a fragmental sectional view illustrating the connected end sections of a leg member.

Fig. 10 is -a fragmental sectional view through one of the table legs.

Fig. ll is a sectional view through one corner of the case illustrating the movable latch.

Fig. l2 is an elevational View `of said latch.

Fig. 13 is an elevational view of a Section of one of the leg members, showing a hinge with a removable pin.

Fig. 14 is -a fragmental sectional View of another leg member, wherein the sections of the leg member are connected by a conventional hinge.

Fig. l5 is a side elevational View illustrating braces as supporting the drawing board in an elevated position.

Fig, 16 is an end elevational view illustrating the braces as supporting the drawing board in an inclined position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the combined table and carrying case comprises a box-like body portion indicated generally -by the reference character 5, which embodies a rear panel 6, side panels 7 and 8 and a front 2,772,130 Patented Nov. 27, 1956 ICC panel 9, the front panel having a cut-away portion in which the hinged closure lil is mounted, the closure 10 having a handle 11 for controlling the opening and closing of said hinged closure.

Secured within the body portion, is a panel 12 disclosed in parallel spaced relation with rear panel 6, providing a compartment 13 to receive the legs of the table when the rear legs are folded within the body portion.

Panels 14 `are provided at vopposite sides of the body and are arranged in spaced relation with the side panels with which they are associated providing compartments 15 at the sides of the body portion into which the front legs of the table fold when out of use.

These panels 14 are provided with lines of spaced elongated openings 16, which openings are designed to receive the lugs 17 :and 18 that extend from certain "of the edges of the substantially triangular braces 19, thereby holding the braces 19 in their positions of adjustment.

These braces 19 brace the drawing board 20 which is removably supported on the upper side -of the body portion so that it may be readily removed for use independently of the drawing table.

As better shown lby Figs. l5 and 16, the drawing board when positioned in an inclined position for use by a draftsman, will be held against movement by contact of the lower edge of the drawing board with the portion 21 of the front panel that extends above the upper edges of the side panels. It will be obvious that by shifting the brace members from the position shown by Fig. l5 of the drawings, to the position as shown by Fig. 16 of the drawings, the drawing board may be secured in various inclined positions to meet the requirements of the draftsman.

It will also be seen that the angle at which the drawing board may be supported, will be varied with the movement of lthe braces *longitudinally of the panels 14.

The rear legs of the table embody a plurality of sections 22, the sections being connected by means of hinges 23 secured to one of the respective sides of the adjacent leg sections, while directly opposite thereto are hinges 24 which have removable pins 25, such as shown by Fig. 13 of the drawings, to the end that by removing the pins 25 of the hinges at one side of the leg sections, the sections of the hinges 24 may be disconnected and the hinges pivoted on the pins 23 and folded into a small 4and compact article to be housed in the compartment 13.

The front legs which are indicated by the reference character 26 may be hingedly connected to sections 27 whichrhave hinges 2S that open inwardly, and hinges 29 that open outwardly, so that these hinged sections 27 may be folded one upon the other and swung upwardly into the compartments 15.

At the upper end of each leg, is a pivot plate 30 which is substantially U-shaped, as better shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings, which ts around the upper section of each leg providing a wear plate. The upper section of each leg is also formed with a bore 31 in which a pin 32 is disposed, the pin 32 of each leg being formed with an opening in which a coiled spring 33 is positioned, the coiled spring 33 also bearing against one surface of the pivot plate 30, as shown by Fig. 7. A pin actuated rod 34 is fitted in a board of the panel associated therewith, and this board is arranged directly opposite tothe pin 32, so that by forcing the pin actuating rod 34 inwardly, the pin 32 may be moved to a position to allow the leg to swing upwardly to its folded position. A pivot pin 35 pivotally connects each leg to the body portion 5 to permit of such pivotal movement. Associated with each pin actuating rod 34 is a second pin actuating rod 36 which is designed and so located with respect to the V,the latch members 3,8 operate, each latch member 38 having an elongated opening 39 in which a nail 40 is disposed, which nails hold the latch members within their slots. The latch members are of lengths to extend intoY the slots 41 of the drawing board 20 to hold the drawing board in position on the top when the leg members are folded into the bodyportion, thereby providing a carrying case for the leg members and braces 19.

Finer openings 42 are provided adjacent to the latches 38 so that the operator may position his nger under the down-turned ends 43of theAlatch members `38 toV withdraw the latch members when it isrdes'ired to release the drawing board.

Assuming that the leg members of the drawing board are in their folded positions, and Vit is desired to extend the leg members to provide a drawing table, it is only necessary to operate the pin actuating rods 36 to force the pins 32 inwardly, whereupon the leg members may be swung to their vertical supportingpositions and the pins 32 moved into openings of the side members, as shown by Fig. 7, securing the leg members in their vertical.

positions. The separable sections of the hinges are now brought together and the pins 25 positioned to hold the.

sections together. The legs are now'held against swinging inwardly accidentally to allow ,theV table to collapse.Y Y Having thus described the invention what is claimed is: 1. A combined drafting table and carrying case, comi prising aboX-like body including side panel members and .front and rear panel members connected at their ends to said side members, an inner frame embodying a rear member arranged in parallel spaced relation with said rear panel member providing a leg compartment at the rear of said case, side members arranged in parallel spaced relation with said side panel members and secured at one of their respective ends to said rear member of said inner frame, the other ends of said side members of saidrinner frame being connected to said front panel member providing elongated compartments at the sidesV of said case, a bottom panel closing the bottom of said inner frame, a vertically swinging closure panel adapted to close the top of said tableand leg members pivotally mounted within said leg compartments.

2. A combined drafting table and carrying case, com- .Y prising a box-like body, an inner frame within said body, -said side members having rows of spaced openings in the upper surfaces thereof, substantially triangular members having'lugs disposed along side edges thereof, saidV lugs being fitted in said openings securing said triangular braces in upright positions, and a removable'drawing board resting on said brace members wherebysaid drawing board is supported in various angular positions Von said body. Y Y 3. A combined drafting table and carrying case com-- prising a box-like body `having an open side and having leg compartments in the other side, leg members embodying hingedly connected sections foldable into saidV leg compartments, means for securing said legs in their ex- ,Y

tended positions, a drawing board providing a top for said table, means'for 4supporting-the drawing board in Vvarious angular positions with respect to the body, and

means for securing said drawing board'over the open side of the body normally closing'said body.

4. A combined drafting'table .andca'rrying case comprising a box-like bodylegs foldable into said body adapted to support said table, Vbarshaving lines of openings secured within said body with said openings disposed upwardly, movable'brace members, lugs on said brace ymembers adapted to engage in said openingsof said bars securing said brace members in upright positions, a re-V movable drawing board closing one side of the body adapted to rest against said brace members holding said rawing board inY an angular position with respect to the body.

5. A combined ldrafting table and carryingV case Vcomprising a box-like body, leg compartmentsformed along the bottom of said body vadjacent to the side and rear walls thereof, legs foldable'into said leg compartments, v Vsaid body having an open side, barsrsecured within said body and-having openings disposed within the upper sides of said bars, triangular brace members having Vlugsextending vfrom certain edges thereofsaid lugs adapted to engage within the openings of said'barsholding said brace members in position, a drawing board adapted to close the open side of said body, and said Ybrace members providing a support for said drawing board, supporting. said board in `an inclined position with respect to the boxlike body.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 996,908 Craig July 4, 1911 1,101,992 Booraem June 30, 1914 1,829,288 May Oct. 27, 1931 1,872,489 Townes Aug. 23, 1932 2,051,490 vLightfoot L Aug. 18, 1936 2,660,497 Norquist Nov. 24, 1953 2,696,415 Mimelson Dec. 7, 1954 Burrows Aug. 9, 1904 Urine.- 

